SAN FRANCISCO – As expected, lefty Jorge De La Rosa will start Tuesday’s game against the Mets back at Coors Field. Monday’s off day gives Jim Tracy the luxury of not having to find a fifth starter.

Eventually, Tracy will have to make a decision on a starter for next Saturday’s game against the Diamondbacks, but he doesn’t have to go there just yet.

That pitcher definitely won’t be opening-day starter Aaron Cook. Though the right-hander is making progress with his sore shoulder, he won’t be ready in a week’s time.

“Aaron won’t be ready, but we are very hopeful we’ll have him back further into September,” Tracy said.

Some tidbits for tonight’s game:

* Todd Helton takes a seat tonight in a planned off day. Helton is fine, even though he got shook up making his brilliant fielding play Friday night, but Tracy said he’s been trying to find time off for Helton for quite some time. Given tonight off, coupled with Monday’s off day, Helton can rest up for the September run.

* Carlos Gonzalez’s bruised left thumb looks much better today. The swelling is down and he’s able to grip a bat. He’ll take batting practice to test it out, but it’s very unlikely he will play tonight, unless it’s as a pinch runner. Sunday looks doubtful, too.

SAN FRANCISCO – The question about who will start Tuesday’s game against the Mets remains unanswered. Only one thing is certain: It won’t be Josh Fogg.

Manager Jim Tracy said this afternoon that Fogg will go back to his role as the Rockies’ long reliever. It also won’t be Franklin Morales, who has found a niche in the bullpen. Tracy, who thinks relief pitching will be the key down the stretch, doesn’t want to mess with a good thing.

Tracy said there is a possibility the Rockies – who have an off day Monday – will skip a spot in the rotation. That would mean a start for Jorge De La Rosa vs. the Mets’ Mike Pelfy.

Carlos Gonzalez’s left thumb is swollen and purple today, meaning he won’t be swinging a bat in tonight’s crucial game against the Giants.

“I can’t play today, but I could pinch run if they need me,” Gonzalez said.

The outfielder jammed his thumb diving for a ball in center field during Thursday’s loss to the Dodgers. The Rockies could sure use his bat. Gonzalez is hitting .379 since the all-star break, third best in the NL.

With both Gonzalez and Dexter Fowler out, Eric Young Jr. gets another start in center field.

“I’m feeling more comfortable every day,” he said this afternoon.

Here’s the lineup the Rockies will throw out against Giants ace Tim Lincecum, with catcher Chris Iannetta moving up to hit sixth (Iannetta is 6-for-10 vs. “The Freak.”):

DENVER — Improved health and stated strategy were the double-barreled themes today in the pregame. Carlos Gonzalez, who had been battling a left hand injury, hit in the batting cage with no trepidation and returns to the lineup in center field.

Also, while the Rockies considered skipping the fifth starter’s spot because of Monday’s off day, that won’t be the case. Tracy said he would announce either Friday or Saturday who would pitch Tuesday against the Mets at Coors Field. Tracy admitted that the team is weighing all options. Josh Fogg is in the mix. As is Russ Ortizon. Another alternative could be Brad Penny, who was released by Boston last night and clears waivers Monday. As the day has progressed, there are some concerns on how Penny would fit in the Rockies’ clubhouse. He ended on bad terms with the Dodgers’ last year. Again, that could play a part. Nobody wants to disrupt the chemistry right now.

Russ Ortiz is coming off a strong performance in Triple-A Colorado Springs.

Also, catcher Yorvit Torrealba will be the only player fined for Monday’s fracas with the umpires. Torrealba had yet to receive the amount. The Rockies are pleased that he wasn’t suspended, crediting the thorough investigation by MLB discipline czar Bob Watson. The reality is that the umpire Bill Miller, if he said the term the Rockies’ alleged, was way out of line. Also, a final point on the incident and I will move on. Talked to pitching coach Bob Apodaca today, and he explained to me that he was trying to be a buffer in arguments with the umpires, namely when Huston Street exchanged words with Jim Joyce. Apodaca also was trying to calm the situation after the game. Veteran move by a coach recognizing the importance of the situation.

Big finish to the series today against the Dodgers. There are no such things as must-win games in August in baseball. But a victory today would make life a lot easier on the Rockies in the coming days, cutting the NL West deficit to two while keeping the Giants a minimum of three games back entering a series in San Francisco this weekend.
A look at the lineups:
DODGERS
SS Furcal
CF Kemp
RF Ethier
LF Ramirez
3B Blake
1B Loney
2B Hudson
C Ausmus
RHP Padilla (making Dodgers’ debut)

DENVER — In a twist from this last weekend, there was good news regarding injuries today. Aaron Cook’s MRI on his shoulder came back clean. With no structural damage, it leaves the possibility he will pitch again this season. Cook will begin playing catch next week after the Rockies return from San Francisco.

Carlos Gonzalez, out with a cut left hand, also made progress. He played catch, testing the cut on his left throwing hand. He wasn’t throwing 100 percent, but he said he could be available to play defense in an emergency. The plan is to hit off a tee tomorrow. The stitch will come out either Tuesday or Wednesday. He doesn’t grip the bat tightly with his left or top hand so he believes he will be able to return to the lineup this week.

DENVER — Talked to a source who confirmed that the Rockies are going to sign Jason Giambi to a minor-league deal and send him to Triple-A Colorado Springs. Colorado has been seeking left-handed bench help to complement Seth Smith. It would free him to hit earlier in the game.

The San Francisco Chronicle first reported the Giambi signing tonight.

Giambi hit .193 with 11 home runs before Oakland released him on Aug. 8. The idea is for him to regain his timing in Triple-A and join the the Rockies when the rosters expand on Sept. 1

ST. LOUIS — Roy Halladay, the greatest starter pitcher that the state of Colorado has ever produced, has achieved another significant honor in his stalwart career. The former Arvada West star has been named to start for the American League team opposite of San Francisco’s Tim Lincecum tomorrow at Busch Stadium.

“I am obviously very honored. I never really thought about starting, but when it was announced, it is a big difference. It is special. I am just glad that I didn’t have to make the decision. It’s special because you realize the guys around you in the clubouse. I am extremely excited. It’s a highlight moment for me in my career,” Halladay said. “It’s something that doesn’t happen very often.”

Halladay has been in the news all week after Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi admitted that he would listen to trade offers for the ace. The price is steep — four players, including two top prospects. Halladay is that good. The former Cy Young award winner is off to another strong start. He has won 10 games despite missing time with a groin injury.

“It’s very difficult to pick that one guy. Based on the body of work, Doc over the last several years to be possibly the best pitcher in the American League,” AL manager Joe Maddon said.
Lincecum is baseball’s hottest pitcher. The San Francisco ace and reigning NL Cy Young award winner flirted with a no-hitter in his last outing. He threw a complete game earlier this year in St. Louis. For Lincecum, who arrived at the press conference with a ski cap looking like he just finished a garage session with The Stone Temple Pilots, this opportunity offers redemption. He missed last year’s all-star game at Yankee Stadium because of an illness.

For all those asking if the nine runs the Rockies scored in the seventh is a road record, it is. The Rockies’ previous record for runs in a road inning was eight, last reached in 2005 at San Francisco.

The inning was highlighted by a three-run double from Todd Helton and three-run home run from Ian Stewart.

Denver — Baseball’s image suffered another black eye following a report by The Los Angeles Times that Manny Ramirez will be suspended for 50 games for violating the league’s performance-enhancing drug policy.

The Dodgers have been baseball’s best team, winning all 13 of their home games. They are a dramatically different team without Ramirez. While details are still surfacing on what Ramirez may have taken — agent Scott Boras said the drug involved was prescribed by a doctor for a medical condition — manager Clint Hurdle reacted with sadness to the news.

Just when baseball thought it was starting to distance itself from the steroid era, another huge player has fallen.

“I think it’s here, it’s now. So any distance we might have picked up we lost as an industry. That’s the sad part of it,” Hurdle said. “For whatever reasons, there are some individuals who aren’t getting it. There are so many guys who are clean who continue to live under this black cloud. The notoriety of those involved, it saddens me as a father, as a citizen. My daughter relies on human growth hormone for instance. But we still live in an industry where guys are looking for an edge.”

Players watched as the story played out on TV. Many like Ramirez and were disappointed.
“It helps us, but I don’t like that it happened to him. He’s a good guy,” pitcher Jorge De La Rosa said.

Added Rockies’ cleanup hitter Garrett Atkins, “It’s frustrating. You would like to think the best players in the game our clean. But to say you are shocked at this point would be kind of silly.”
The Rockies are looking to sweep their first series this season today, facing the San Francisco Giants at Coors Field at 1:10 p.m. Hurdle has switched order of the lineup and given Atkins a rest.

San Diego — Left-handed hitters have proven to have an advantage against sinkerball pitchers. So it shouldn’t come as a total surprise that Rockies’ manager Clint Hurdle tweaked his lineup for tonight’s series finale against the San Diego Padres.

Ian Stewart, who has struggled against right-handed pitching, gets the start at second base, Seth Smith is in left and Brad Hawpe, a notorious sinkerball killer, bats cleanup. Garrett Atkins, the team’s main cleanup hitter, shifts to the fifth spot.

The Rockies are trying to salvage a winning road trip, having gone 2-2 against San Francisco and San Diego. The Padres have lost six straight, and will have a tall order tonight in Aaron Cook. Cook is 12-4 lifetime against San Diego, and his only win this season came against them last week at Coors Field.
A look at the Rockies’ lineup:
CF Dexter Fowler
LF Seth Smith
1B Todd Helton
RF Brad Hawpe
3B Garrett Atkins
SS Troy Tulowitzki
C Chris Iannetta
2B Ian Stewart
RHP Aaron Cook

SAN DIEGO — Manuel Corpas remains in San Diego with the Rockies, but acknowledged that a Triple-A demotion is a possibility.
As of 3 p.m. MST., no move had been made.

“They have to have someone up here who can do the job. I know that. I have to keep working hard to improve,” Corpas said today.

There’s a possibility that the right-handed reliever could be sent down to Triple-A to correct mechanical flaws that have sabotaged his slider. Corpas was tagged with the loss Sunday at San Francisco, and has given up five runs in his last six outings, spanning 4 2/3 innings.

Ryan Speier, who has been making steady progress from his strained left hamstring, is eligible to come off the disabled list today. Another option is Randy Flores, who had an out date in his contract pass last Thursday. He has pitched well for the Sky Sox. His string of seven consecutive scoreless appearances ended Friday. He has pitched multiple innings for Colorado Springs, and worked in a variety of roles during his time in the the Cardinals’ bullpen over the last few years. Flores could have left the Triple-A club last week if a 25-man roster spot was available with a big league team, but none materialized. He showed flashes in spring training, but was still working his way back from offseason shoulder surgery.

Corpas’ issue is rooted in his delivery. His left shoulder comes opening, causing him to sling his pitches. That creates lateral movement. That has killed his slider since it stays over the plate too long allowing even fooled hitters to get the bat on the ball for base hits.
The Rockies’ face the Padres tonight at 8:05 p.m. They are 9-14, 7 1/2-games behind the Dodgers, who have opened the season by winning a record 10 straight home games.

San Francisco – Ian Stewart might want to take a lesson from Ryan Spilborghs.

Stewart isn’t in the lineup today, not because lefty Barry Zito is on the hill for the Giants, but because Stewart hasn’t been aggressive enough early in the count, especially against right-handers.

Stewart had a sit-down this morning with Clint Hurdle and Don Baylor about that very thing.

“At the very least, I should be swinging at fastball’s early in the count,” said Stewart, whose average is down to .235. “I just need to be more aggressive in early in the count. I’ve been getting to too many 2-2 counts.”

Spilborghs, went through the same thing earlier this season, but he got more aggressive and is the club’s hottest hitter right now.

Stewart, a big-strong, left-handed slugger, is hitting .364 for lefties, but just .200 vs. right-handers.

Hurdle, obviously, expects more.

“Ian has taken more fastball strikes than anybody on the club,” Hurdle said. “He’s not in a good place at the plate right now. We have to find a way to re-spark Stew. As good as he’s hit against left-handed hitters, if you are a left-handed power hitter, you’d better be able to hit against right-handers somewhere down the line.”

San Francisco – It’s gray, chilly and drizzling, but it looks like they’ll get today’s game in.

Todd Helton starts at first base in a day game after a night game. Why not? Helton went 2-for-4 Friday night for his fourth straight multi-hit game. He’s had five consecutive multi-hit games just twice in his career. The last time was June 9-14, 2002.

Clint Hurdle confirmed this afternoon what recent pitching performances had already spelled out.
Right-hander Huston Street, the closer coming out of spring training, who lost his job, is now the closer again.

Manuel Corpas is out.

“It’s another month, so I want to change closers once a month,” Hurdle said with a smile. “It’s May 1, so I think it’s appropriate. Just kidding. Huston has made progress, Manny has not.”

Street, at least for the moment, looks like the best man for the job after striking out Padres in the ninth inning on 15 pitches in Colorado’s 7-5 victory on Wednesday.

Street is 2-for-2 in save opportunities and five of his last six outings have been scoreless. But his 6.10 ERA and the two-run, ninth-inning homer he served up to the Phillies on April 12 shows that he’s been far from dominating.

Street supplants Corpas, whose inability to keep the ball low in the zone, plus his failure to recapture the command that made him a keystone of the Rockies’ run to the World Series, have relegated him to a middle-innings guy.

“It’s not the eighth inning,” Hurdle said of Corpas’ role. “He’s not pitching well enough to be the eighth inning guy right now. We’re going to try to get him more right-handers than left-handers. We’re going to try to maybe go double innings with him from time to time for like a volume of pitches, kind of the way we brought him up, and see where that takes us. But there’s got to be better consistency and there’s got to be better location for him to stay and contribute here.”

Hurdle said he will mix and match his set-up men, using Alan Embree and Jason Grilli.

“I’m looking at Embree and I’m looking at Grilli,” Hurdle said. “I think we’ll look definitely at Alan, because of the experience factor and the fact he can go through right-handers and left-handers. And if there’s an opportunity where match-ups might be better, then maybe Jason would get that opportunity to pitch in front of him.”

If they play tonight’s game – and that’s looking more doubtful by the minute – Matt Murton will make his first start in a Rockies uniform. He’ll bat second and play left field, Hurdle figuring that the right-handed Murton would stand a better chance against Giants giant lefty Randy Johnson.

Brad Hawpe is not in the lineup. He’s recovered from his bruised neck, but Hurdle didn’t want him facing Johnson. Wise move, considering Hawpe is 0-for-9 against Johnson.

DENVER — The idea was to feed Dexter Fowler little chunks, to ease him into the lineup. But special talent knows no timetable. Fowler, manager Clint Hurdle confirmed, is his starting center fielder. Asked directly if he would continue running Fowler out there until he showed he needed a break, Hurdle told me, “I would think so. He’s started out there more than anyone else.”

Fowler provides a speed dynamic offensively and range defensively that no other player on the roster can match. The team’s best lineup is when he leads off. The original plan entering the season was to start Fowler against left-handers and throw in a few games against No. 4 and No. 5 right-handed starters when he hit left-handed. But Fowler has shown he can handle more, so he will continue to get more at-bats.

“It doesn’t matter to me. I come to the park ready to play everyday,” said Fowler, who tied a major league rookie record last night with five steals.

Hurdle will still look at matchups, and will be careful with Fowler against the team’s best opposing starters. But at this point, there’s no reason to back him off. What this means is that if you had Seth Smith on your fantasy league team, tough luck. He’s the guy losing at-bats because the opening day center fielder Ryan Spilborghs moves over to left. Spilly is starting in right tonight because of Brad Hawpe’s status. Hawpe expects to start Friday in San Francisco.

In other notes:
–Troy Tulowitzki remains on the bench for another work day. This is the third consecutive season this has happened to Tulo in April. Talked to Tulo today and he’s remaining upbeat. Those who think he’s selfish, don’t get it. He’s just competitive and wants to help his team win. But as he knows, the best lineup doesn’t include him ight now. I would be shocked if he doesn’t turn it around.

–Jason Hammel will remain the fifth starter after his abbrievated outing last night. Hurdle needs to see more consistency, but saw enough to keep him in the rotation. Keep an eye on Jason Hirsh in the minors. I am not saying he’s ready to come up, but he may have finally turned the corner with his strong outing last night for the Sky Sox. If his velocity returns, he will get a shot again.

Phoenix – The anticipated pitchers’ duel in the desert turned into a slugfest today at Chase Field.

Rockies ace Aaron Cook got the hook with just one out in the third inning, after throwing only 55 pitches. Cook gave up six runs on seven hits, including two homers.

The first bomb was launched by Felipe Lopez off Cook’s third pitch of the game. The second homer came on a 1-1 pitch to Tony Clark in the third. Clark’s two-run 412-foot homer to right put the Diamondbacks ahead 6-4. It was Cook’s last pitch of the day.

Last season, Cook didn’t allow six runs in a game until June 20. His shortest outing all last season was a three-inning stint on Sept. 3 vs. San Francisco.

The D-Backs’ Brandon Webb isn’t faring any better. Through three innings he’s given up four runs, three of them coming on Brad Hawpe’s base-loaded double in the second. And he just gave up back-to-back homers to Troy Tulowitzki and Chris Iannetta as the Rockies tied the game 6-6.

At the plate: Ian Stewart found his zone today, proving his left biceps injury is fully healed. He launched a three-run homer off Angels starter John Lackey in the first and added a run-scoring single in the seventh, increasing his spring RBI total to five. Utility candidate Daniel Ortmeier hit a solo homer to right in the fifth, his second homer this spring. Clint Barmes went 2-for-4 with an RBI single, boosting his average to .375.

On the mound: Though not as sharp as his last outing, lefty Franklin Morales pitched a workmanlike four innings, allowing two runs on two hits. He also walked two. One area of concern is Morale’s continued discomfort when men get on base. That led to a first-inning balk, though the Rockies protested the call.
“I tried to throw my fastball inside early and I used my curveball pretty good later on,” Morales said.
Closer candidate Huston Street, his quadriceps 100 percent healthy, threw and aggressive, efficient fifth, setting the Angels down in order.

In the field: Stewart, getting the start at third base, flagged down a hot shot down the line by Torri Hunter in the third inning and fired a perfect throw to first nip Hunter. Earlier in the inning, Stewart barehanded a slow roller by Chone Figgins, easily throwing him out at first.
Center fielder Scott Podsednik went full throttle in the sixth, tracking down a deep fly by Mike Napoli to save a run.
Pitcher Jason Hirsh made an ugly error in the sixth. Hirsh got Kendry Morales to hit a chopper back to the mound, catching Erick Aybar between third and home. But Hirsh tossed the ball over the head of catcher Paul Phillips, allowing Aybar to score.

Footnotes: After a seven-game losing streak to open spring training, the Rockies have won six straight Cactus League games. … Podsednik (three walks) — counting on his speed to help him earn a spot on the roster — stole his third base of the spring in the first. He was thrown out trying to steal in the fifth.

At the plate:Ryan Spilborghs snapped an O-fer spring with a first-inning single. He reached base in all three of his plate appearances, including an RBI single in the sixth. Pinch-hitter Eric Young Jr. plated the go-ahead runs with a two-RBI single, pushed two more across in the seventh when a pop-up ricocheted off Rule V pick Everth Cabrera’s glove for a questionable error and stole a base.

On the mound:Ace Aaron Cook wasn’t as economical as normal – requiring 65 pitches for four innings – but was no less effective. Free to pitch any way he wanted, the All-Star right-hander pounded the Padres with fastballs, including four strikeouts of Chase Headley and Kyle Blanks on sinkers. “I can’t honestly say I was trying to get strikeouts there. I was just focusing on making good quality pitches,’’ said Cook, who finished with six Ks.
Huston Street was everything Cook was not. He faced six batters and five scored. Headley and Blanks both crushed changeups for home runs. After a walk to Nick Hundley, Street was pulled, a concerning outing a day after the team lost setupman Taylor Buchholz (elbow) for at least a month. Street has a 33.83 ERA in two spring appearances. Manuel Corpas, meanwhile, has not allowed a run in four innings, counting work for Team Panama, giving him the early edge in the competition for the closer’s spot.
Five months after shoulder surgery, left-handed reliever Randy Flores made his spring debut, showing resolve. Flores stranded runners on second and third by retiring three consecutive hitters.
Reliever Esmil Rogers provided a Pepto-Bismol moment in the ninth, tagged by Chad Huffman for a grand slam.

In the field: In the bottom of the third inning, second baseman Jonathan Herrera made the Rockies’ best defensive play of the spring, diving fully extended to spear a Chris Burke groundball. Herrera fired a dart to first, but Burke beat the throw. “It was an incredible play. But he was safe,’’ Cook said. Herrera has played short, second and third this spring as he tries carve out a new niche. Third baseman Christian Colonel, Cal Ripken of the Cactus League, made a nice pick and throw to nail Travis Denker, drawing oohs and aahs from the crowd. He has appeared in every Rockies’ game this spring.

Footnotes:Based on applause, there were more Rockies’ fans than Padres’ boosters at Peoria Sports Complex. In fact, the Rockies’ fans were louder than any crowd at Hi Corbett Field this spring.

It was eight days ago that reality intervened with vacation. I was supposed to be on vacation when Matt Holliday was traded to the Oakland Athletics. It brought to mind not Dante Bichette, but Dante from “Clerks.” It was a spectacular movie where Dante repeated throughout the flick “I am not even supposed to be here today.”

Anyway, Holliday’s exit was inevitable, though it came much sooner than expected. Since my cellphone doesn’t know I am on vacation — so much for the “Winter of Troy” — yes stolen from “The summer of George” on Seinfeld — a few musings for those eager for hot stove chatter:

–Got the breakdown on Ryan Dempster’s four-year, $52-million deal with the Cubs from a baseball source.
Signing bonus: $4 M
2009: $8 M
2010: $12.5 M
2011: $13.5 M
2012: $14 M Player Option
Base in 2010 through 2012 inceases by $500,000 for each Cy Young in any previous season and $300,000 for finishing second in voting; increases by $300,000 for any League Championship Series MVP in any previous season; $500,000 for each World Series/MVP in any previous season; $200,000 for 3rd place Cy Young ($150,000-4th; $100,000-5th) in immediately preceding season; $500,000 for MVP ($300,000-2nd; $200,000-3rd; $150,000-4th; $100,000-5th) in immediately preceding season; $75,000 for Gold Glove in immediately prededing season; $75,000 for The Sporting News All Star in immediately preceding season.
His maximum base increases:
2010: $1.95 M
2011: $3.25 M
2012: $4.55 M

Dempster will also donate $25,000 a year to Cubs Care Foundation.

–No surprise that Dempster, who lives in Golden, re-signed with the Cubs. Friends said it was practically a foregone conclusion once GM Jim Hendry received his contract extension. Dempster’s return doesn’t preclude a run at Jake Peavy in a trade. But the Cubs would have to involve a third team to satisfy the Padres’ need for pitching.

–Brad Mills missed out on the Mariners’ job. The Red Sox bench coach would have likely chosen Alan Cockrell as his hitting instructor had he gotten the nod. The Mariners, according to a major league source, have chosen Don Wakamatsu as their new manager. Wakamatsu was last the bench coach in Oakland and, before that, Texas. So he knows the AL West.

–As many as 12 teams have expressed interest in free agent center fielder Cory Sullivan, with three clubs appearing more serious. Sullivan is an elite defender who could help many teams.

–The Rockies have not been particularly aggressive in their pursuit of a left-handed reliever. The top ones could come off the board quickly with Jeremy Affeldt signed at two-years, eight million by the Giants. Affeldt had told friends last week that he wanted to be in San Francisco if the money was right.

–Wil Ohman, a Ponderosa High School product, has 10 teams interested, including the Cardinals and Braves, who have made an offer. The going rate for the upper-tier left-handed relievers has been established at $4-million per season based on what Damaso Marte and Affeldt received.

–There’s been some chatter that the Rockies will make a play for free agent second baseman Orlando Hudson. He would fit based on his energy, personality and production. But I don’t see it. Hudson is going to command a hefty contract in years and dollars, a commitment that’s hard to see the Rockies making given their strong devotion to prospects.

–The Rockies have yet to express interest in free agent starter Josh Fogg. He makes a lot of sense as a late winter signing given that the team always need depth and Fogg is a great clubhouse presence.

–Free agent shortstop Rafael Furcal is widely popular these days with the Giants, Athletics and even the Braves, if they trade Yunel Escobar. The Giants are also lurking in the Manny Ramirez sweepstakes.

The incongruity is striking. Baseball GMs are bracing for a financial hit given the turbulent economy while they talk under chandeliers and stand on marble floors. Anyway….

These meetings are starting to create a buzz, with more interest and trade fits beginning to emerge. Also before I forget, I will post quick hits from GM Dan O’Dowd’s media session this afternoon. That will appear around 5:30 MST time. Onward:

–Matt Holliday, barring a dramatic reversal, will be traded this winter. General manager Dan O’Dowd made it clear Tuesday that he’s not afraid to play kids or unproven players when I asked him about starting Ian Stewart, Seth Smith and Ryan Spilborghs in the same lineup. Holliday should fetch a big return, but there’s no perfect deal out there. The Rockies want pitching which is why they have spoken with the Rays, who could part with Edwin Jackson or Andy Sonnanstine. Carl Crawford’s name has also surfaced as someone the Rays might be willing to give up for Holliday.

–Garrett Atkins is among the players not working out in Denver anymore. He’s returned to the performance institute in Southern California, where he had trained before. He began his offseason regiment this week and is working out with Milton Bradley, among others. Good friend Chase Utley will be joining the group soon.

–White Sox GM Ken Williams painted an optimistic picture of Jayson Nix this week. He said that Nix will have a chance to compete for the team’s second-base job, calling him a “grinder.’’ Nix was the Rockies’ opening-day second baseman last season. The White Sox are familiar with Nix because they saw him frequently in spring training games in Tucson. The White Sox want to get younger and more athletic which is why Willy Taveras makes a lot of sense there. Williams values speed as much as any GM.

–Agents who have met with the Yankees confirm that the Bombers are prioritizing all the big fish – CC Sabathia, A.J. Burnett, Derek Lowe, Mark Teixeira. The team hasn’t won a title since 2000, and fans paying more than $2,000 a game for seats behind home plate in the new ballpark aren’t going to go for an infusion of prospects. That’s why the Rockies are monitoring the availability of Phil Hughes and Ian Kennedy. Hughes is considered a super prospect. Kennedy, a former high school teammate of Ian Stewart’s, is seen as a back-of-the-rotation starter at this point.

Footnotes
Predictions: Both Jake Peavy and Khalil Greene will be traded. …. Pat Burrell lands in San Francisco with good buddy Aaron Rowand. … The Mets sign Brian Fuentes this winter.

Patrick, a third-generation Colorado native, is back for his second stint covering the Rockies. He first covered the team from 2005-2009, helping chronicle “Rocktober” in 2007 and also following the team’s playoff run in 2009.

Nick Groke has worked at The Denver Post since 1997, as a sports reporter, city reporter, entertainment writer and digital editor and producer, among other newsroom posts. He also writes regularly about boxing, soccer, MMA and NASCAR.